According to Phil Schubert, ACU executive vice president, "an Apple iPhone or iPod touch will become a central part of Abilene Christian University's innovative learning experience this fall when all freshmen are provided one of these converged media devices."

ACU will be providing not only the devices, but cutting-edge webapps "that ensure these tools will become critical to the students' learning experience."

Whether this is a one-off, or the beginning of a trend, and if there's any synergy with Apple's ongoing iTunes University program (where university material is provided free of charge via Apple's iTunes media store) remains to be seen. (But we certainly hope so!)

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p>UPDATE: Not to be outdone, Oklahoma Christian University has seen ACU's free iPhone or iPod Touch, and raised a free MacBook for new students (and faculty), or trade-in for PC toting older students. (Via Engadget)